arXiv subjects

Frederic Aitken

Publications and source records attributed to Frederic Aitken.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2022

Free Volume Model Analysis of the O2- Ion Mobility in Dense Ar Gas

We report the results of the experiment aimed at measuring the mobility of O2- ions in dense argon gas in the temperature range 180 K < T < 300 K. We show that an adequate theoretical description of the data is obtained by using the thermodynamic Free Volume (FV) model, originally developed to describe the electron bubble mobility in superfluid helium and successfully exploited for describing the O2- mobility in near critical neon gas. The model goal is to thermodynamically predict the free space available for ion motion. By implementing the FV model with the Millikan-Cunningham (MC) slip correction factor, we can describe the ion mobility in the crossover region bridging the dilute gas kinetic regime to the high-density hydrodynamic regime of ion transport. These results confirm the validity of the model and the universality of some of its features.

physics.chem-ph↗

arXiv2022

A novel general modeling of the viscoelastic properties of fluids: application to mechanical relaxation and low frequency oscillation measurements of liquid water

The aim of this paper is to calculate the time dependence of the mean position (and orientation) of a fluid particle when a fluid system at thermodynamic equilibrium is submitted to a mechanical action. The starting point of this novel theoretical approach is the introduction of a mechanical energy functional. Then using the notions of inertial modes and action temperature, and assuming a mechanical energy equipartition principle per mode, the model predict the existence of a dynamic phase transition where the rheological behavior of the medium evolves from a solid-like to a liquid-like regime when the mechanical action is increased. The well-known Newtonian behavior is recovered as limiting case. The present modeling is applied to the analysis of recent liquid water viscoelastic data pointing out a prevalent elastic behavior in confined geometry. It is demonstrated that the model makes it possible to understand these data in a coherent and unified way with the transport properties (viscosity and self-diffusion coefficient). It is concluded that any finite volume of fluid at rest possesses a static shear elasticity and should therefore be considered as a solid-like medium.

cond-mat.soft↗

arXiv2015

Nucleation, solvation and boiling of helium excimer clusters

Helium excimers generated by a corona discharge were investigated in the gas and normal liquid phases of helium as a function of temperature and pressure between 3.8 and 5.0 K and 0.2 and 5.6 bar. Intense fluorescence in the visible region showed the rotationally resolved $d^3Σ_u^+ \rightarrow b^3Π_g$ transition of He$_2^*$. With increasing pressure, the rotational lines merged into single features. The observed pressure dependence of linewidths, shapes and lineshifts established phases of coexistence and separation of excimer-helium mixtures, providing detailed insight into nucleation, solvation and boiling of He$_2^*$-He$_n$ clusters.

physics.atm-clus↗